Mesquite Flat Dune Field in Death Valley
May 08, 2015
Photographer: Tim Hanko
Summary Authors: Tim Hanko; Jim Foster
The photo above was captured shortly before sunset in the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes area (near Stovepipe Wells), of Death Valley National Park, California. The sand is comprised of fine-grained material, mostly quartz and feldspar, washed down from the slopes (alluvial fans) of the nearby Cottonwood Mountains and others that rim the valley. Over thousands of years, winds whipping through this desolate valley piled the sand into the dune shapes seen today. Movies are frequently shot here, including several scenes from the Star Wars series. Photo taken on November 14, 2014.
Photo Details: Camera Model: Olympus OM-D E-M1; Lens: OLYMPUS Zuiko Digital ED.14-42mm F3.5-5.6 II R; Focal Length: 42.0mm; Aperture: ƒ/5.6; Exposure Time: 0.0031 s (1/320); ISO equiv: 400.